Connect with us

Business

Alibaba-backed BNPL firm gets SECP licence | The Express Tribune

Published

on

Alibaba-backed BNPL firm gets SECP licence | The Express Tribune


Koko Tech to tap in to consumer financing for youth, freelancers and small businesses


ISLAMABAD:

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has granted a licence to Koko Tech Pakistan (Private) Limited (KTPL) to operate a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) business in Pakistan, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.

KTPL is owned by Alibaba.com Holdings, one of the world’s leading e-commerce and technology companies. The entry of Alibaba-backed KTPL marks a significant milestone for Pakistan’s digital financial ecosystem, reflecting growing international confidence in the country’s large consumer base, expanding digital economy and untapped financial services market.

With advanced AI-driven credit assessment systems and globally tested digital infrastructure, KTPL is expected to introduce innovative, data-driven lending solutions in the BNPL space. This will enhance access to consumer financing, particularly for young users, freelancers and small businesses that remain underserved by traditional banking channels, which have often been reluctant to extend credit to these segments due to perceived risks and lack of formal documentation.

The development also represents a direct inflow of foreign investment into Pakistan’s financial sector, signalling that international investors are taking note of the country’s improving regulatory environment and digital adoption rates. Backed by Alibaba’s global expertise and capital strength, KTPL is well-positioned to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs), boost e-commerce activity and accelerate the shift towards a more inclusive, technology-led financial system that prioritises access over traditional collateral-based lending.

SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said that the entry of Alibaba Group will boost competition and innovation within Pakistan’s non-banking financial sector. He noted that Pakistan is an attractive destination for international investment, supported by its large population of over 240 million people, growing digital adoption across both urban and rural areas, and an improving regulatory framework that has been steadily modernised to accommodate new financial technologies.

The statement did not specify when KTPL would commence its BNPL operations or the expected scale of its initial rollout across the country. Following the pattern adopted by other digital lenders entering the market, the company is expected to begin with major urban centres before expanding to smaller cities.





Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

Morgan Stanley tops estimates as trading revenue exceeds expectations by nearly $1 billion

Published

on

Morgan Stanley tops estimates as trading revenue exceeds expectations by nearly  billion


Morgan Stanley on Wednesday posted results that topped analyst estimates as the firm’s trading operations generated almost $1 billion more in revenue than expected.

Here’s what the company reported:

  • Earnings: $3.43 a share vs. $3 LSEG estimate
  • Revenue: $20.58 billion vs. $19.72 billion estimate

The bank said profit jumped 29% to $5.57 billion, or $3.43 a share. Revenue rose 16% to $20.58 billion, fueled by gains in the firm’s trading, investment banking and wealth management businesses.

Equities trading revenue jumped 25% to a record $5.15 billion, or about $450 million above the StreetAccount estimate. The firm cited strong volumes across its global equities franchise, especially in its prime brokerage business catering to hedge funds and its derivatives unit.

Fixed income revenue rose 29% to $3.36 billion, or about $540 million more than expected, helped by commodities trading that benefited from volatility in energy markets in the period.

Morgan Stanley, led by CEO Ted Pick since 2024, appears to have capably navigated the tumult of the first quarter, which saw rolling corrections in software stocks and the upheaval caused by the Iran war. Of note, the bank edged out rival Goldman Sachs in the key arena of fixed income trading, where Goldman posted an unusually large miss of $910 million versus the StreetAccount estimate.

Morgan Stanley’s investment banking revenue surged 36% to $2.12 billion, essentially matching the StreetAccount estimate, on rising fees from completed mergers, as well as stock and bond underwriting.

Wealth management revenue climbed 16% to a record $8.52 billion as the firm cited rising asset values and fee-generating transactions.

The firm’s smallest division, its investment management business, saw revenue drop 4.2% to $1.54 billion, or about $110 million below expectations. Morgan Stanley cited lower carried interest on private funds for the drop in performance.

Analysts will want to know what Pick has to say on the business outlook for the rest of the year as geopolitical tensions remain high.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.



Source link

Continue Reading

Business

Bank of America tops estimates as CEO Brian Moynihan says consumer banking is ‘healthy’

Published

on

Bank of America tops estimates as CEO Brian Moynihan says consumer banking is ‘healthy’


Bank of America, the nation’s second-largest lender, beat on the top and bottom lines during the first quarter, bolstered by equities sales and trading.

Here’s what the firm reported:

  • Earnings per share: $1.11 per share vs. $1.01 LSEG estimate
  • Revenue: $30.43 billion vs. $29.93 billion estimate

The bank said Wednesday that net income rose 17% to $8.6 billion, or $1.11 per share, Bank of America’s highest EPS in almost two decades.

Revenue rose 7.2% to $30.43 billion on rising net interest income, higher trading revenue, and fees from investment banking and asset management.

Tune in at 10:15 a.m. ET as Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan joins CNBC TV to discuss the bank’s earnings report. Watch in real time on CNBC+ or the CNBC Pro stream.

Equities trading contributed to the beat, as the geopolitical environment roiled stock markets. Revenue in that business jumped 30% to $2.83 billion, topping the StreetAccount estimate by roughly $350 million and helping drive the bank’s trading operations to its best quarter in 15 years.

Investment banking also beat estimates and was up 21% to $1.8 billion, compared with StreetAccount consensus of $1.73 billion.

Net interest income, the profitability metric for loan-making, increased by 9% to $15.9 billion and beat expectations of $15.67 billion as well, according to StreetAccount. That was due to higher loan and deposit balances, fixed-rate asset repricing and markets activity.

In a sign that the bank’s borrowers weren’t deteriorating, the firm posted a $1.3 billion provision for credit losses in the quarter, lower than the $1.5 billion provision in the year earlier period and about $190 million below the estimate.

“We remain watchful of evolving risks. However, we saw healthy client activity, including solid consumer spending and stable asset quality, indicating a resilient American economy,” Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said in the release.

Still, like rival Goldman Sachs, the bank’s fixed income revenue came in below expectations. That business generated about $3.5 billion in revenue, missing the StreetAccount estimate by about $330 million.

The net-charge-off ratio, showing what proportion of total loans were deemed unable to be collected, improved 6 basis points during the quarter to 0.48%. The firm’s consumer banking and global wealth divisions each gained more than 20% in net income.

Return on tangible common equity, a measure of profitability, was 16%, a more than 200 basis point improvement.

— CNBC’s Hugh Son and Laya Neelakandan contributed to this report.

Correction: Bank of America previously guided to net interest income growth of between 5% and 7% this year. A previous version of this article misstated the range. And the firm’s consumer banking and global wealth divisions each gained more than 20% in net income. A previous version misstated the growth metric.

Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.



Source link

Continue Reading

Business

First time in 7 years! India gets 4 million barrels of crude oil from Iran just ahead of Trump waiver expiry – The Times of India

Published

on

First time in 7 years! India gets 4 million barrels of crude oil from Iran just ahead of Trump waiver expiry – The Times of India


India, which relies heavily on imported energy and is sensitive to price fluctuations, has felt the impact of disruptions in global oil flows. (AI image)

In the middle of the ongoing Middle East conflict, India has received around 4 million barrels of crude from Iran. This is the first time in around seven years that India has procured crude oil from Iran. India is looking to quickly secure supplies ahead of a deadline set by the Donald Trump administration that expires over the weekend.India, which relies heavily on imported energy and is sensitive to price fluctuations, has felt the impact of disruptions in global oil flows following strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran since late February.

Watch

India Receives Iranian Crude After 7 Years Amid Looming US Hormuz Blockade Crisis

To manage the situation, it has made use of temporary waivers granted by Washington that permitted purchases of previously restricted Russian and Iranian crude, aimed at easing global oil prices. One of these waivers has already lapsed, while the other is set to expire soon unless extended at the last moment.

India Receives Crude Oil From Iran

A Bloomberg report quoting sources familiar with the matter and vessel-tracking data from intelligence firms Kpler and Vortexa, said that the very large crude carrier Jaya, fully loaded with Iranian oil, is currently unloading its cargo at Paradip on India’s eastern coast.Also Read | Atmanirbhar Bharat 2.0 push: Amid Middle East conflict, India working on self-reliance in energy, nuclear power Another tanker, Felicity, is carrying out similar operations at Sikka on the western coast. Both vessels, which are under US sanctions, are expected to leave Indian ports by Friday, based on port documents reviewed by Bloomberg News.Indian Oil Corporation handles crude shipments at Paradip, while Sikka is used by Reliance Industries and Bharat Petroleum Corporation, which operates a single-point mooring facility in the area.India had been a major importer of seaborne Russian crude until last year and quickly ramped up those purchases. However, refiners have faced greater challenges in sourcing and paying for Iranian shipments due to continuing financial sanctions. Earlier this month, India indicated that it would procure crude from Iran, among other sources, to deal with the ongoing supply strain.The arrival of cargoes carried by the tankers Jaya and Felicity, both under US sanctions for their role in transporting Iranian oil, suggests that alternative arrangements have been put in place to facilitate these imports, the report said.Meanwhile, another Iran-linked vessel, Derya, is currently positioned off India’s western coast with a full load of crude. The tanker had taken on cargo at Kharg Island in late March, but may have missed the deadline tied to the US waiver. It is currently signaling that it is awaiting further instructions, indicating that it has yet to secure a destination port.Also Read | Trump’s blockade of Strait of Hormuz begins: How will India be impacted?



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending